Euro 2016: Gareth Bale’s clash with Cristiano Ronaldo is much more than the semi-final between Wales and Portugal

Antony Kastrinakis tips the Welsh hero to pip his Real Madrid team-mate to the Fifa Ballon d’Or if he wins their classic duel

By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS

3rd July 2016, 11:27 pm

Updated: 4th July 2016, 12:07 pm

GARETH BALE knows Wednesday’s Euro semi-final is much more than a clash between Wales and Portugal.

The people’s Prince of Wales tried to play it down but he clearly knows the inescapable truth.

Gareth Bale could be heading for a top Fifa award if he outplays Cristiano Ronaldo

This is a shootout with his Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo for the Fifa Ballon d’Or.

At the very least Bale with his Euro heroics has ensured a place in this year’s three-man shortlist. Unless Fifa want to let conspiracy theorists have a field day, naturally.

Bale said: “It’s only a game between Wales and Portugal, nothing more.”

Only it is. Much more.
When Ronaldo slotted Real’s winning spot-kick in the Champions League final shoot-out with Atletico Madrid he had inched ahead of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the race for this year’s award.

Fast forward five weeks and suddenly Bale looms large over the three of them.

Gareth Bale has been the main main for Wales, as expected, bagging 3 goals so far

And — given Messi’s Argentina failure in the Copa America — should Bale take Wales to the final, not least at the expense of Ronaldo, he will have a big shot at this year’s running. Bale wants to be mentioned in the same breath as the game’s greats.

But he has lived in the shadow of Ronaldo throughout his three years at the Bernabeu.

And now, look, the two of them going at it with a place in the Euro 2016 final, and possibly the ultimate individual accolade too.

Sam can be our own ace Ventura

ITALY’S ‘Sam Allardyce’ will succeed Antonio Conte as Azzurri boss.
Giampiero Ventura has never managed a top club, instead spending most of his career with middle-of-the-table sides or in the lower divisions.
It is not the first time he has replaced Conte. He did so at Bari in 2009 and led them to their highest Serie A points tally.
Like Big Sam, who miraculously saved Sunderland against all odds this season, Ventura is an expert in avoiding relegation and winning promotion.
Unfancied and without any ‘international’ experience in Uefa competitions, Ventura could just be the example the FA must follow when choosing Roy Hodgson’s successor.
If nous, know-how and eking the best out of any bunch of players is good enough for Italy, then it should be good enough for the FA.

Bale said two years ago when asked that he did not care about the Ballon d’Or — only back then he was not shortlisted.

Well, he certainly does care now. Every superstar does. In England we’re ‘sour grapes’ about the whole thing. Critics say that it’s just a La Liga love in.

EPA

Question marks over ex-Man Utd ace Ronaldo have been bigger than ever before

The Premier League may be the most popular and exciting but La Liga dominates these awards as Messi and Ronaldo play there.

But it’s only because it’s a reminder the truly great players ply their trade in Spain that we turn our noses up.

Not Bale. Who lives and plays in Spain. He knows it represents a place in the pantheon of the game. A seat at the top table. Win it and you’re one of the all-time greats.

Now it’s within Bale’s grasp.

As fate would have it he’s up against Ronaldo.

Getty Images

Gareth Bale and Co celebrate beating Belgium and a first-ever semi-final place

Should it turn out to be a damp squib — as most of Portugal’s matches have been so far — it could still have dramatic ramifications for both men.

A win for Bale could catapult him to greatness and at the same time leave the “couldn’t do it for Portugal” tag hanging from Ron’s neck.

If Ron prevails, he will have possibly his last chance to end his Portugal nightmare — 12 years of near misses and failures could come to a glorious end.

For both Real Madrid stars it is so much more than just Portugal versus Wales.

Three-time winner Ronaldo wants to get closer to Messi’s five awards.

But for Bale, immortality beckons.

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